Okay Colin Campbell, the balls in your court.  You can send a message that cheapshot hits to the head are not tolerated by suspending Downie for 20 games.  But I know you won’t.

Posted by Rachel on 09/25/07 at 07:47 PM ET

Dr. Gerald Maher the Tufts head and neck specialist, who has worked with the N. E Patriots medical staff for over two decades, will be in Atlanta at Russell Athletic to present his theory on concussion prevention to the Arena Football trainers and equipment managers. Also, the head of marketing for Schutt, the largest football helmet company will be on hand to speak about new technologies. You see, Schutt and Mahercor laboratories are the official helmet and mouth guard of the AFL, together we intend to market a concussion system, helmet, and mouth guard. The difference behind the Maher mouth guard is that it is actually a medical procedure that corrects diagnosable cartilage damage, the Dean of Tufts dental research says its use is inevitable, an irrefutable study is needed in order for the NFL to listen. Dr.Maher is now in talks with the NFL on a research project, its methodology is being questioned, and their objective. A positive finding will give former players grounds for suit, when you know something for years and withhold it from the players you should be protecting, that’s negligence. Tufts is prepared to do that independent study, please go to our web site to read the latest stories on the subject. http://www.mahercor.com

Posted by Mark Picot from Boston on 09/25/07 at 09:03 PM ET

20 games? Ha. this league has zero ball to do anything.

if people were watching the game, Schubert’s hit was more dangerous than Downie’s hit in the first place. players need to keep their heads up at all times.

Colby Armstrong does this kind a hit 5 times a year and gets away with hit all the time.

As for Mcgratton’s statement after the game saying, “it was a dirty hit, he’s known for it, and next time we play them he’ll get what he deserves” is basically saying that any player on flyers is fair game.  it also takes alot of balls from a guy who got his ass handed to him by bolurace and cote.

BTW, Flyers are BACK

Posted by FlyersFan on 09/25/07 at 11:23 PM ET

i dont understand the crying

Elbows were down. He wasn’t striding into the player at contact. The player just got rid of the puck.

What exactly is wrong with that?

Posted by FlyersFan on 09/25/07 at 11:25 PM ET

to refresh everybody mind….

here is coby armstrong

http://youtube.com/watch?v=z9RuldyPc…elated&search;=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=FFp2dlMrv…elated&search;=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fv1l_WHqI…elated&search;=

http://youtube.com/watch?v=A2RMT5Lrq…elated&search;=

now compare it to downie

http://youtube.com/watch?v=322zqTkL0-c

Posted by FlyersFan on 09/25/07 at 11:29 PM ET

How many players need to lie face down on the ice before people quit pulling out the “Keep your head up” comments?

Players are getting injured because other players are drilling them for the sake of the big hit.  If a player is in a vulnerable position, let up a bit. 

Don’t try to punish them so you can make the highlight reel.

Posted by Shane from Saskatoon on 09/25/07 at 11:51 PM ET

He left his feet which caused the contact to be higher than it should have been. Which is really bad because he still would have leveled him with a good clean low shoulder. This one was worse than what I’ve seen before. Colby Armstrong’s hit on Jeff Carter began low and he followed through upward. The contact began below the head and sure enough, Carter wasn’t hurt. If Downie had made contact below the head, he would have still had a crushing hit and there wouldn’t be an injury.

I’m not one who has argued that the league needs drastic change about hits to the head, but if players really are going to keep on making hits unnecessarily high on an opponent, then perhaps there does need to be a rule change.

Posted by false_cause from DC on 09/26/07 at 12:12 AM ET

Colby Armstrong never has left his feet on a hit.

Posted by cojac on 09/26/07 at 12:16 AM ET

What’s happening on these hits are that players are driving their shoulders (and hard shoulder pads) up into the chin of the player they are hitting.  Even if they technically don’t leave their feet, it’s still a deliberate head shot and should be punished severley.  Another reason to punish hits like this severely: to keep a revenge motivated incident like the Bertuzzi-Moore hit from happening next time the Flyers play the Sens.

Posted by Ray on 09/26/07 at 12:52 AM ET

he left his feet = dirty hit. no doubt and he should be suspended.period.
if the NHL wnats to make a statement about this kind of hits, do it now!!!!

Posted by Steph from Bonn, Germany on 09/26/07 at 05:05 AM ET

I really don’t understand the match penalty on this. he left his feet yes, everything else was a text-book clean hit, shoulder first, arms in tight. it should have been two minutes for charging and that’s it, because that is what the rules state. referees better not react to a player’s sprawling on the ice and start giving out 5-minute match penalties otherwise you are going to turn the NHL into the “No-Hit League”.

Posted by phillyd from New Jersey on 09/26/07 at 06:00 AM ET

Yeah, McAmmond must’ve dove, huh? 

Posted by cementslinger from Midland MI on 09/26/07 at 07:16 AM ET

I have no problem with hard hitting, but it’s the jump to get higher and hit to the head that bothers me.  If Downie had stuck to his skates and delivered a solid, straight-on hit, I don’t think it would have been at all dirty, even if McAmmond didn’t see it coming.  I fully support a suspension on this one.  I think Campbell will give one - probably 3 to 5 games - to send a message without bringing out the boo-birds.

Posted by cdndragoon on 09/26/07 at 07:19 AM ET

20 games? Ha. this league has zero ball to do anything.

Flyers Fan is right—Downie should have been punished on the ice by McGrattan, just like it used to be in the pre-Bettman era of hockey.  Make less-talented goons like that pay the physical price of a beat-down by an enforcer and see how many times he leaves his feet to hurt somebody again.

Posted by Right Winger on 09/26/07 at 10:53 AM ET